The contents of a register can be pasted while in insert mode: type Ctrl-r then a character that identifies the register. For example, Ctrl-r then " pastes from the default register, and Ctrl-r then 0 pastes from register zero which holds the text that was most recently yanked (copied). See pasting registers.

Command-line mode occurs after typing : to enter a command. By default, while in the command line, typing Ctrl-f opens the command-line window where commands can be edited using normal mode. For example, part of one command can be copied then pasted into another command. See using command-line history.

Unlike most text editors, Vim distinguishes between its own registers and the system clipboard. By default, Vim copies to, cuts to, and pastes from its own default register, called the unnamed register ("", also called quotequote) instead of the system clipboard.

Assuming Vim was compiled with clipboard access, it is possible to access the "+ or "* registers, which can modify the system clipboard. In this case, one can copy with e.g. "+y in visual mode, or "+y{motion} in normal mode, and paste with e.g. "+p.

If your installation of Vim was not compiled with clipboard support, you must either install a package that has clipboard support, or use an external command such as xclip as an intermediary. See Accessing the system clipboard for detailed information.

Deleted or copied text is placed in the unnamed register. If wanted, a register can be specified so the text is also copied to the named register. A register is a location in Vim's memory identified with a single letter. A double quote character is used to specify that the next letter typed is the name of a register.

For example, you could select the text hello then type "ay to copy "hello" to the a register. Then you could select the text world and type "by to copy "world" to the b register. After moving the cursor to another location, the text could be pasted: type "ap to paste "hello" or "bp to paste "world". These commands paste the text after the cursor. Alternatively, type "aP or "bP to paste before the cursor.